Month: October 2017

So you want to get your home ready to sell, but do not have much money to spend. Most people are in your shoes. They want to sell their home, but they really don’t want to put a lot of money into a place that they are not going to be in much longer. Here are some great inexpensive ways to get your home ready to sell and make people want to purchase it.
First and foremost is the curb appeal of your home. Go outside and take a look at your house. Don’t just glance at it, I mean really take a long hard look at your house. Think of yourself as the buyer. What do you see Is there trash and clutter all over the yard What does the landscaping look like How about the look of the house does it look old and worn These are all things to consider. One of the things you should make sure that you do is clean up your yard. Not only by de cluttering and getting rid of trash, but also by cleaning up the landscaping (trimming bushes and trees, weeding and even adding some flowers if the season permits). Make sure not to neglect the siding of your house either. There is nothing like a good power washing to make your house look newer.
The next thing to consider is what you see when you first enter into your home. First impressions are the ones that sell, sell, sell. Make sure to eliminate all the clutter and personal items in your home. You want to stage your home to sell and make a potential buyer see themselves in your home. So get organized and start cleaning out before you put your home on the market.
Think about doing a complete spring cleaning on your home to prepare it to sell. Give the walls a fresh coat of neutral paint. Replace old blinds or curtains. This will make a great impression on the new potential owners. Make sure to clean windows so that you can see out of them. An inexpensive way to spruce up the floors is by renting a carpet shampooer and cleaning the carpets yourself. You should also consider the floor in each room. Most home buyers today are very interested in hardwood flooring. If your home is carpeted, check to see what you have underneath. If you are an avid do-it-yourselfer, consider putting in your own hardwood or laminate flooring. This will only take a weekend and the returns are wonderful.
Another way to update your home to get it ready to sell is to check on lighting. Make sure that all light fixtures are in working order. Make sure that each room has adequate lighting supply for staging to show off each room adequately. You might even want to consider changing the wattage of your existing light bulbs to add brightness to your house. You may consider even updating light fixtures, especially bathrooms and outdated chandeliers. Make sure to turn on the lights in the house before you have any potential clients coming to look, especially if it is a cloudy, darker day. This will make the house look brighter.
The biggest things you can do to prepare you home for selling is updating the kitchen and bathrooms. This does not have to be elaborate. If your cabinets are old and outdated, consider refinishing the cabinets. It is amazing what a coat of paint will do on cabinets to update the look of any kitchen or bathroom. People like the look of open, light and airy spaces and by painting dark cabinets and updating the hardware, you will be able to achieve this look.
One final thought when trying to sell your home. You need to remember that people are sensory. Make your house feel warm and inviting by placing fresh flowers around the house. Bake some cookies, not only will they make people think of you house as homey and provoke warm, homey thoughts, but you can leave them out for them to munch on while they look at your home. If you don’t have time to bake cookies, consider using candles that have the scent of home baked goods. There are a lot of them out there.
Following these ideas, you will have a much better chance of selling your home and it will not break your bank to bring home multiple offers and higher bids for your home.